Car-coupling



(NMorlel.) A. LOVELACB Calfv Coupling. No. 237,882. Patented Feb.15,1881.

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11 Invewor; `oc'lLer' uflLovelag UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

WALTER A. LOVELAGE, OF RICHMOND, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,882, dated February15, 1881.

Application filed November 22, 1880.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER A. LovELAcE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Berkshire and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inCar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of car-couplings inwhich the cars are automatically coupled when brought together, and canbe uncoupled without the necessity of the brakeman entering between theplatforms.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction of thecouplings and to render them more effective in operation, and to providesimple means whereby the cars may be uncoupled either from one side ofthe platform or from the top ofthe car.

To this end my invention consists, essentially, in providing a draw-headwith a movable jaw and with a rear chamber communicating with alongitudinal space between the movable jaw and the draw-head, andarranging a sliding block or plate within the drawhead which is adaptedto be adjusted longitudinally along the movable jaw for locking thesame, and to be retracted into the said.

rear chamber of the draw-head in order to release the movable jaw.

Theinvention embraces other features, which will be fully hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

`In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a perspective view ofa draw-head or buer constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2represents a longitudinal sectional view of two draw-heads or bui'erswhen in a coupled position 5 Fig. 3a transverse sectional view, showingthe means of operating the lookin g and unlocking device from the sideof the car. Fig. 4 represents a transverse sectional view, showing amodified means of operatin g the locking and unlocking device, wherebythe latter can be actuated either from the side or top of the car.

` Referring to the drawings, A indicates a buffer or draw-head,which, inthe present instance, is formed with the lower stationary proximatelyhemispherical recess, a, forming (No model.)

i a shoulder, c', the front edge of said jaw being beveled olf, as at b,in order to guide the head of the coupling-bar between thejaws.

The letter C indicates the upper loose movable jaw, which is recessedand beveled, as at c d, the same as the stationaryjaw forming theshoulder c', and -is provided at or near its rear end with a transverserounded lug or projection, e, which sets within a similarly-shapedseat,f, in thejaw B. This lug and seat form a bearin g in which themovable jaw is adapted to vibrate to open and close the jaws, themovable jaw in such movements being guided and prevented from lateraldisplacement by means of the vertical walls g g of the buffer-head; and,further, the lug and recess prevent any longitudinal movement of thejaw.Themovable jaw is provided with an incline, h, which reduces thethickness ot' the rear part or shank of saidjaw, and provides a rearchamber, i, in the buffer-head for the reception of the locking andunlocking device, hereinafter described. l

The' device for locking and unlocking the movable jaw consists of ahorizontal bar or plate, D, arranged above the latter, and provided witha beveled or wedge-shaped front edge, 7c, and at its rear end it ispivoted to one end of an angle-lever, E, which is pivoted at its anglein a horizontal slot in the wall g of the butler-head, as at I.. The endof said angle-lever, which projects outside the buiierhead, is connectedwith a rod or link, F, extending to the side of the car, and suitablysupported in suitably-constructed guides.

The coupling-bar Gr is of that class termed arrow-heads; 7 but in thepresent instance the heads m are approximatelyv in the shape of asphere, so as to provide rounded portions to permit its free and smoothingress and egress between the coupling-jaws.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that when the slide D ismoved, rearward so as to occupy the chamber t' the couplingbar willfreely enter between the jaws, moving the upper jaw vertically until thespherical head m enters the chamber formed by the two recesses c and c,when the upper jaw will fall by gravity, and the shoulders c' and cgrasp the head of the coupling-bar. In order to lock the movable jaw inthis position after IOO the cars have been coupled, as stated, and thusavoid the possibility ot' their accidental uncoupling, the rod or link Fis pushed inward, which aetuates the angle -lever and throws the slidingplate I) forward, its wedgeshaped end riding np the incline h, and thenmoving forward over the movahlejaw. The sliding block will thus preventany vertical movement of the movable jaw by reason of the top wall, '11,ofthe butler-head.

In order to permit the nncoupling ot' the cars, the rod or lilik F ispulled outward, and thereby the sliding plate D is withdrawn into thechamber 1'., and the movable jaw is free to move vertically, and, owingto the rounded shape ot' the heads on the coupling-bar, they will freelymove from between the jaws.

In some instances it maybe desirable to operate the locking andunlocking device from the top ofthe car, as well as from the side ot'the platform, and to accomplish this in a very simple manner I connectthe outer end ofthe rod or link F to one end et' an angle-lever, l1,which is so pivoted at its angle as to oscillate in a vertical plane,and to the outer end ot' said angle-lever is attached a rod, I,extending vertically through suitable guides to the root' of the car. Bypulling` said rod I upward, the angle-"lever H is so actuated as to drawoutward the rod I", and thus operate the sliding plate D.

I have illustrated a very simple mechanism for operating the locking andunlocking device; but I do not wish to contine myselt to such, as otherarrangement of devices can be provided for moving the slide; and,further, I would state that the butter-heads can be provided with anaperture, o, for the passage ot' an ordinary coupling-pin, whereby thecars can be coupled by the usual coupling-links, as they will readilyenter the mouths of the jaws B and C.

I-Ieretofore a car-coupling has been constructed with an upper pivotedjaw contined in position to retain the coupling-bar by means of a keyarranged transversely through the draw-head above the pivoted jaw, saidkey heilig pivoted at one end to a vertical swinging lever, by which itis operated; but such is not my invention, and is' not claimed by me.

l. The combination, with a draw-head having a movable coupling-jaw, andprovided with a chamber in its rear portion communicating with alongitudinal space between the movable jaw and the draw-head, of a slideinclosed within the draw-head, and arrai'lged to be adjustedlongitudinally along the movable jaw for locking the same, and to beretracted into the rear chamber of the draw-head for releasing saidmovable jaw, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the fixed jaw of a car-coupling, of a loose ormovable jaw having an incline on its upper side, and alongitiulinally-sliding plate or bar having a beveled or wedge-shapedend adapted to ride up said inclinei'or locking the movablejaw inaclosed position, substantially as described.

3. 'Ihe combination, with the iixed and movable jaws ot' acar-couililing and the buffer-head in which they are inclosed, ot' alongitudinallysliding plate or bar arranged above the movable ja-w, anangle-lever pivoted in thel side wall of the buii'er-head and having itsinner end connected with'the slide, and a rod or link attached to thcother end ot' said anglelever and extending` tothe side ot' the car,substantially as described.

ei. The combination, with the butter-head, the fixed and movable jaws,and the horizontal slide arranged above the movable jaw, ot' theangle-lever pivoted within the butter-head and connected with the slideand a connecting mechanisni extending to the root' the car,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence ot'vtwo subscribing witnesses.

VAL'IER A. LOVELACE.

Witnesses:

NEWELL S. WIGHT, GHARLEs H. LOVELACE.

